Luke Hammond of Warwickshire
The prestigious HSBC Road to Wimbledon semi-finals day at The Bank of England Sports Centre started off with an explosive display of big serving and bigger forehands from fourth seed Luke Hammond of Warwickshire. A National Throws champion at 10 years old and a fast bowler for Somerset County highlights his incredible hand-eye coordination that has helped him on the quick grass courts this week at HSBC Road to Wimbledon that has seen him through to the final with an emphatic 6-0, 6-0 victory over Lucas Percy of Kent. After reaching the singles and doubles final Luke said “It’s great to have made the final of the singles and doubles. I felt I was hitting the ball really well today. My game is suited to grass so we’ll see what happens tomorrow.”
James Davis of Kent
Hammond will face James Davis of Kent in the final after the third seed was forced to use every ounce of energy in his body to overcome unseeded Buckinghamshire boy Barnaby Smith 7-6(7), 4-6, 7-5. After the match Davis said “It is such a good achievement to be playing in the HSBC Road to Wimbledon final. A lot of hard work has gone in to getting here. It will be the first time that we will be playing each other but I’m playing well on grass having won Eastbourne last week and in tomorrows final.”
Emily Arbuthnott of Hertfordshire
Number one seed Emily Arbuthnott faced a tough test against fourth seed Sophie Haine from Dorset, rallying from 5-3 down to take the opening set she powered her way to a 7-5, 6-2 victory. After the match she said “I’m very happy to be in the final, I am really enjoying playing here at HSBC Road to Wimbledon. I was a little nervous at the start and then began to play more aggressively and the match started going my way. I’ve played on grass before at my club in Harpenden so I feel comfortable on these amazing courts.”
Holly Horsfall of Yorkshire
Joining Emily in the final will be Holly Horsfall of Yorkshire who becomes the second player from Yorkshire to reach the girls final in consecutive years. The Holmfirth girl defeated the number two seed Holly Hutchinson 4-6, 6-2, 6-3 and said after the final “I am very happy to have won my semi-final. I started nervous but managed to improve for the start of the second set. It will be the first myself and Emily will be playing on grass, i really like Wimbledon so hopefully I can do well tomorrow.”
